Geographic Information Systems: Socioeconomic Applications [Paperback]

David Martin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 20, 1995 | ISBN-10: 0415125723 | ISBN-13: 978-0415125727 | Edition: 2

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are now essential to the work of an incrasingly diverse range of organizations concerned with population characteristics, from local government and health authorities to major retailers and marketing agencies. David Martin presents an accessible introduction to the history, principles and techniques of GIS, with a unique focus on socioeconomic applications. This non-technical overview of the collection, input, storage, manipulation and output of data addresses the needs of students and professionals who must understand and use GIS for the first time. This second edition builds on the strengths of the first. Taking into account recent advances in GIS development and major new socioeconomic datasets (including new census data), it explores more fully the contribution of GIS to geography and their power in influencing our environment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Already a useful, readable and informative introduction to both GIS and socioeconomic applications, this new edition brings the subject matter nicely up to date in what is currently a rapidly developing area of GIS.
–David Green, University of Aberdeen

An insightful, comprehensive and accessible account of GIS theory and practice. David Martin's own research is at the forefront of socioeconomic and demographic applications of GIS and users entering this field can benefit from his insight. His updated text is sure to be widely read and deserves to be high on the list of essential reading for anyone interested in population and all GIS users.
–Stephen Matthews, Population Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University

About the Author

David Martin is Lecturer in Geography at the University of Southhampton. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (December 20, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415125723
• ISBN-13: 978-0415125727
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,492,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Readable Introduction to GIS with Socioeconomic Applications, October 9, 2010

By 

D. V. Short "Enzo Short" (Orkney, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Geographic Information Systems: Socioeconomic Applications (Paperback)

This book is intended to provide a general, non-technical introduction to the field of GIS. More specifically, it is aimed at those with a particular interest in the socioeconomic environment. In the following chapters, the reader will find an explanation of GIS technology, its theory and its applications, which makes specific reference to data on populations and their characteristics. The aim is not to provide detailed analysis of fields such as database management systems (DBMS) or computer graphics, which may be found elsewhere, but to introduce GIS within a strong framework of socioeconomic applications:

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction
2. The development of GIS
3. GIS applications
4. Theories of GIS
5. Data collection and input
6. Data storage
7. Data manipulation
8. Data output and display
9. Towards a socio-economic GIS
10. Conclusion.

Although the data used in the examples are out of date (mostly 1991), its socioeconomic content is for the purposes of demonstrating the use of GIS in this context: It is therefore still usable for developing an understanding of GIS for socioeconomic applications. The topics chosen for discussion are felt to be sufficiently well established and enduring that they will aid readers in understanding the important aspects of specific systems with which they may come into contact.

(For more detailed technical applications of GIS (that would follow nicely after reading this book), I recommend "Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems" by Keith C. Clarke, which can be used in conjunction with "Getting to Know ArcView GIS" by Pat Breslin. Data is interchangeable between the GIS programs that come with each book. Make sure the software comes with 2nd-hand books that may be bought.)
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